Romanian Elders

Bishop Ignatie honours Fr Mina Dobzeu as ‘unwavering confessor of faith’ under communism

His Grace Bishop Ignatie officiated a memorial service on Saturday at the grave of Archimandrite Mina Dobzeu, located near the Diocesan Cathedral in Huși. “He was an unwavering confessor of faith in Christ, without any interruption, in the face of the atheist materialist steamroller of communism,” the bishop said. “This is one of Fr Mina…

Jun 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

11 years since the repose of Archim. Roman Braga, confessor of the Jesus Prayer and witness through exile

Wednesday, April 29, marks 11 years since the repose of Archimandrite Roman Braga, the Bessarabian-born confessor who began practising the Jesus Prayer through the Burning Bush spiritual gatherings at Antim Monastery in Bucharest, endured communist imprisonment twice in Romania, and later served the Church in exile. Born in 1922 in Condrița, Bessarabia, Fr Roman entered…

Apr 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

80 years since Romania’s ‘Burning Bush’ hesychast movement began

The Library of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has marked 80 years since the official launch of the “Burning Bush” spiritual movement at Antim Monastery in Bucharest, commemorating the anniversary in a social media post. In a petition addressed to Patriarch Nicodim and dated 12 February 1946, several Christian lay intellectuals requested…

Feb 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel marks name day, highlights hesychasm and National Cathedral chapel dedicated to Romanian ascetics

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel marked his name day on Thursday, the feast of Saint Daniel the Hesychast, on which occasion he spoke about hesychasm as God’s gift of uncreated light to those who call upon Him, as well as about the chapel located in the basement of the National Cathedral, placed under the patronage of…

Dec 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew hails Romanian Church’s Centennial during National Cathedral consecration in Bucharest

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I delivered a profound message of unity, faith, and gratitude on Sunday during the consecration of the mosaic iconography of the National Cathedral in Bucharest. The event, co-officiated with His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania, marked a historic moment celebrating both the centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and 140 years…

Oct 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel honours Saints Paisius and Cleopas of Sihăstria as pillars of 20th century monasticism

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church marked the local proclamation of the canonisation of Saints Paisius Olaru and Cleopas Ilie on Thursday with a deeply spiritual tribute, calling them “two pillars of light between the mountains and heaven.” In a pastoral message occasioned by the celebrations at Sihăstria Monastery, the Patriarch of…

Aug 8, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church proposes new feast: Sunday of All Athonite Saints

The Romanian Orthodox Church may soon add a new feast day to its liturgical calendar: the Sunday of the Athonite Saints. The proposed date for this commemoration is the third Sunday after Pentecost, following the Sunday of All Saints and the Sunday of the Romanian Saints—two feasts that already occur after Pentecost. The proposal was…

Jul 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian hesychast and anti-Communist Confessor Fr. Benedict Ghiuș remembered 35 years after his passing

Archimandrite Benedict Ghiuș, one of the founders of the “Burning Bush” Hesychast Movement, humbly reposed in the Lord on June 12, 1990. Born Vasile Ghiuș in 1904 in Domnești, Vrancea County, he studied at the Faculty of Theology in Cernăuți and later earned his doctorate in Strasbourg, France. In 1934, he embraced monastic life at…

Jun 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian confessor of faith and U.S. missionary Fr. Roman Braga remembered 10 years after passing

April 29 marks ten years since the passing of Archimandrite Roman Braga, a confessor of faith during communist Romania and later a spiritual father and missionary in Brazil and the United States. Father Roman Braga was born on April 2, 1922, in Condrița, Bessarabia, as the seventh child of Cosma and Maria Braga. He completed…

Apr 29, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Sihăstria Monastery hosts exhumation of Saints Paisius and Cleopas relics in view of local canonization

The relics of Saints Paisius (Olaru) and Cleopas (Ilie) of Sihăstria were exhumed on Monday and placed in specially crafted reliquaries. The special exhumation service was officiated by Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia and Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Botoșani from the Archdiocese of Iași. The personal belongings of the two revered monks, preserved in their…

Apr 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Who are the 15 Venerables and Confessors proposed for canonization as part of the Romanian Patriarchate’s Centennial in 2025

The proposed canonization of fifteen Romanian venerables and confessors is a significant event in the history of the Romanian Orthodox Church. This proclamation, set to take place next year, coincides with the Church’s centennial since its patriarchal status was recognized. The files are currently undergoing analysis and are awaiting approval by the Holy Synod of the Romanian…

May 9, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu